Is a Smartphone a Necessity in 2024?

There are several strong arguments to be made that a smartphone is required, though affording one may not be realistic for everyone.

Smartphone ownership has grown tremendously over the past decade. According to the Pew Research Center, the number of Americans owning a smartphone rose from 35% in 2011 to 90% by 2023.

Smartphone Ownership and Use

Men and women tend to own smartphones in equal numbers, though Americans under age 65 are more likely to have one. Ninety-seven percent of young adults ages 18 to 29 own a smartphone vs. 76% of adults ages 65 or older. Smartphone users also tend to live in urban and suburban areas (rather than rural), have a college degree, and make $30,000 a year or more.

So what exactly are people using their smartphones for? Some of the most common uses include:

• Checking email
• Taking photos
• Surfing the internet
• Navigation
• Social media

Aside from that, people can also use smartphones to pay bills, check bank account balances, manage their budgets, send money to friends and family, and shop online at their favorite stores. The typical person checks their phone 144 times a day, spending four hours and 25 minutes a day on their device, and 56.9% of Americans consider themselves to be addicted to their phones. Still, does that mean they’re necessary?

It’s easy to say that smartphones are a luxury rather than a necessity. After all, people managed to live without them for centuries. Nevertheless, that ignores a number of changes that have taken place in how people work and live.

Smartphones in the Workplace

The increasingly digital nature of the workplace presents the first example of why smartphones should be considered a requirement rather than an option. As more companies use cloud technology to store information and online platforms to keep workers connected, it presents a need for enhanced security protections. Innovations such as two-factor authentication (2FA), also known as multifactor authentication (MFA), make that possible. MFA allows employees, including remote workers, to securely access digital platforms by entering a code—and a key requirement for using it is a smartphone.

Employees who are interested in remote work and independent contractors who work from home will likely need smartphones. Security aside, smartphones can also be vital for staying connected with work through messaging apps or tools such as Zoom.

Smartphones for Recreation and Travel

Smartphones could also be considered a requirement if you travel or engage in recreational activities. For example, the state of New Jersey issued beach access badges through the Viply app. Until the app shut down in late 2023, this allowed allows travelers and tourists to bypass otherwise-long wait lines to get seasonal, daily, or weekly beach passes.

Disney World visitors can download an app that allows them to reserve and pay for contactless dining, navigate the park, and access MagicBand features. The app also features direct-to-room services when staying at Disney Resort Hotels.

Aside from those types of apps, other apps can make travel easier. For example, if you’re catching a flight, your airline may give you the option to download a mobile boarding pass so you can skip the check-in lines. More chain hotels are also offering mobile apps that let you check in and out via your smartphone instead of at the front desk.

The New York City Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) plans to replace fare cards for subways and buses with the OMNY payment system by 2024. Using it will require either a contactless credit, debit, or prepaid card or a smartphone or smartwatch equipped with a digital wallet. If you don’t have one or the other, you won’t be able to ride public transportation in the Big Apple.

Smartphones for Healthcare

Healthcare is another area where smartphones are becoming increasingly important. Telehealth apps, for instance, allow people to chat with a physician live without leaving home. These app types could be vital for someone who has ongoing health issues but can’t always visit a doctor in person. You can also use a laptop or desktop for telehealth, of course.

Affording a Smartphone

Although you could reasonably say that a smartphone is a necessity for many people, affording them isn’t always easy. Smartphones can bring with them a number of costs, including:

• The cost of purchasing the phone itself
• Accessories, such as Bluetooth earpieces and car chargers
• Insurance protection plans
• Monthly service

On average in 2023, the typical cellphone plan cost $144 per month. The global average smartphone price is $286 in 2024, and premium smartphone models can cost $1,000 or more (Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max goes for as much as $1,199). For someone living on a tight budget, those numbers can be extremely daunting. Thus, in addition to asking whether a smartphone is a requirement in 2024, it’s also important to ask how the average person can afford to pay for it.

Some of the best ways to save money on cellphone service include:

• Buying a used phone instead of a new one
• Opting for prepaid phone service in lieu of a contract plan
• Choosing the lowest smartphone service plan possible
• Sharing the cost with others through a family plan

Leasing a smartphone could also save money and afford another benefit: the ability to upgrade to a new phone every year or so. In that sense, leasing a phone is similar to leasing a car. When the lease term ends, you can choose a new phone, keep the one you have and sign a new lease, or buy the phone outright.

Smartphone financing may be an option if you want to buy a phone to own. You can find it through retailers such as Best Buy, cellphone service providers, cellphone manufacturers such as Samsung and Apple, or through buy now, pay later (BNPL) platforms. With BNPL, you’re getting a point-of-sale installment loan instead of using a traditional installment loan or credit card. Any of these options might be worth exploring if you’re looking for a way to finance a phone purchase while saving money on interest.

The Bottom Line

If you use a smartphone regularly, you may not give much thought to how central a role it plays in your day-to-day life. Whether you view smartphones as a necessity or not, it’s clear that dependence on them continues to increase at work, at home, and while traveling. Affording a smartphone is possible, though it may require some planning to find a phone and a service plan that align with your budget.